By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The Cross River State government has commenced moves to effectively track and document projects executed by development partners across the 196 political wards of the state.
The move is being driven by the Ministry of International Donor Coordination, MIDC, through the appointment and training of Donor-Desk Officers across the 18 local government areas of the state.
Declaring open a training workshop for the desk officers at the Calabar Municipal Council Hall, the Mayor of Calabar, Apostle Hon. James Anam, said the initiative would enhance effective monitoring of donor projects.
Anam, who was represented by the Council Secretary, Comr. Iso Bassey Edim, charged the officers to take the assignment seriously, describing them as “the eyes of the MIDC in their various LGAs.”
He pledged the readiness of the council administration to support the initiative, noting that it is for the overall benefit of the state.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for International Donor Coordination, Elder Dr. Hippolatus Ogar Lukpata, said the appointment and training of the desk officers was part of strategies to achieve the ministry’s coordination mandate.
Lukpata said, “The achievements recorded by donor partners in different locations across the state are under-reported.
There is a need to showcase the massive achievements of the people-oriented administration of His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, through projects executed by development partners.”
He explained that the initiative is new in the state and aimed at getting first-hand information independent of donor management for comparison, adding, “If effectively carried out, it would promote effective and efficient programme execution according to specifications.”
The training, which kicked off with participants from the seven LGAs in the Southern senatorial district, will also be held for the Central and Northern senatorial districts at Ikom and Ogoja respectively.
